East Lancashire health expert cheers minimum booze price (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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East Lancashire health expert cheers minimum booze price
6:00pm Thursday 29th November 2012 in News By Sophia Rahman, Reporter
East Lancashire health expert cheers minimum booze price
A LEADING health expert has welcomed a proposal by the Government to set a minimum price for alcohol but has called on MPs to impose a bigger price hike.
The Home Office has launched a 10-week public consultation to a plan to make the minimum price of one unit of alcohol 45p.across England and Wales.
Dominic Harrison, the Blackburn with Darwen’s director of public health, has urged ministers to go further.
He said: “While I believe this move is a definite step in the right direction, I would like to see a 50p minimum price introduced, which would only increase the benefits.
“The potential that could come from this could be huge, not only in terms of reducing alcohol abuse and improving health, but also cutting crime and social problems.
“I want to stress this is not about banning alcohol or being killjoys, but the price of alcohol is so low now that it almost invites people to drink too often and to excess.”
If the coalition chose to impose a 50p minimum, as it stands in Scotland, two thirds of prices in supermarkets and off licences would rise with a bottle of vodka increasing in price from £9 to £13.13.
Steve Magnall, managing director of Black burn-based brewers Thwaites said: “Any move that will begin to align pricing of alcohol between the on and off trade is positive news for pub licensees and consumers, as it will encourage people back in to the pubs where they drink in a controlled environment.”
But not everyone is in favour of the move.
David Grant, managing direc tor at Burnley-based Moor house’s, said: “There are many responsible people who like a drink and don’t want to have to pay high prices for it, these people will be penalised by the rise.”
Miles Beale, chief cxecutive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said: “Minimum unit pricing and the proposed restrictions to promotions are wholly untargeted and will unfairly punish millions of consumers and businesses in the UK, while doing nothing to tackle the root causes of alcohol misuse or associated crime and disorder.”
Comments(16)
Reality50
says...
6:56pm Thu 29 Nov 12
elfnsafety
says...
7:04pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Apart from the fact that there is no evidence the proposal will work - only theory and conjecture, why should moderate drinkers be penalised for the actions of the idiots?
If it were to be introduced, I am sure that after a period of time when the desired result fails to materialise, the health lobby will argue it's because the minimum price is not high enough. Then it will be, let's have 60p or 70p etc., then it will work!
The culprit is largely the easing of the licensing laws. Having recently visited the USA, their policies seem eminently sensible: licensed liquor stores and a prohibition on under 21's purchasing the stuff. Now that would be a good start here.
jim 2012
says...
7:24pm Thu 29 Nov 12
the tax may be illegal under anti competition eu law and unenforceable
jack daniels
says...
8:04pm Thu 29 Nov 12
sean_brfc
says...
9:02pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Reality50 wrote:It isn't a tax, it's a minimum price. And some alcohol is priced far too cheaply in supermarkets; less than water in many cases. Hopefully the minimum price will have a positive impact on the pubs.
All these measures will do is create a black market.The booze cruises to Calais Ostend and Boulogne will return. This isn't about health or even to revive the pub trade but it is about creating more government revenue. A lot of people hate pubs or were driven out due to the smoking ban and now we will have the most expensive supermarket booze prices in Europe. RIP OFF Britain!!!!.
BROCKSDAD
says...
9:13pm Thu 29 Nov 12
kate11
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9:20pm Thu 29 Nov 12
prince of darkness
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9:26pm Thu 29 Nov 12
sean_brfc wrote:Where who gets the extra revenue. So next we put up price of creame cakes, as its been decided that they are bad for us. As for price of water its been proved tap water is just as good,we are being over charged thats all.
Reality50 wrote:It isn't a tax, it's a minimum price. And some alcohol is priced far too cheaply in supermarkets; less than water in many cases. Hopefully the minimum price will have a positive impact on the pubs.
All these measures will do is create a black market.The booze cruises to Calais Ostend and Boulogne will return. This isn't about health or even to revive the pub trade but it is about creating more government revenue. A lot of people hate pubs or were driven out due to the smoking ban and now we will have the most expensive supermarket booze prices in Europe. RIP OFF Britain!!!!.
BuckoTheMoose
says...
9:54pm Thu 29 Nov 12
prince of darkness wrote:The EU will declare minimum pricing contrary to international trade laws so the government will 'reluctantly' switch to higher taxes. They don't want to do this to give more profit to the breweries, they want the money for themselves.
sean_brfc wrote:Where who gets the extra revenue. So next we put up price of creame cakes, as its been decided that they are bad for us. As for price of water its been proved tap water is just as good,we are being over charged thats all.
Reality50 wrote:It isn't a tax, it's a minimum price. And some alcohol is priced far too cheaply in supermarkets; less than water in many cases. Hopefully the minimum price will have a positive impact on the pubs.
All these measures will do is create a black market.The booze cruises to Calais Ostend and Boulogne will return. This isn't about health or even to revive the pub trade but it is about creating more government revenue. A lot of people hate pubs or were driven out due to the smoking ban and now we will have the most expensive supermarket booze prices in Europe. RIP OFF Britain!!!!.
BTW the 'beer cheaper than water' meme is just a myth. The examples the government use of cheap alcohol is the stupidly weak own brands from the likes of Tesco. That stuff is hardly better than shandy
BuckoTheMoose
says...
9:55pm Thu 29 Nov 12
They didn't do it with the smoking ban though, no reason to expect them to do it now
Info-warrior
says...
9:55pm Thu 29 Nov 12
2 for 5p
says...
11:08pm Thu 29 Nov 12
This just shows how out of touch with the common man this GOV is.
QUOTE:
“The potential that could come from this could be huge, not only in terms of reducing alcohol abuse and improving health, but also cutting crime and social problems.
1. If someone is hooked on alcohol they will make sure they get it somehow
2. If they have to steal to get the money they will, so crime will probably go up.
3. Social problems get on this planet Cameron , if a guy or Woman hooked on alc has to pay more they will , who Cameron do you think will have to go without , yes the children , ever penny you increase alcohol some kid will be worse off.
4. I think this will also drive it underground peole going on booze cruises and well laugh if you want , :-) making moonshine.
That's what we should expect though from a eton twit who has never had to work a day in is life.
Return of the Magnificent se7en
says...
1:22am Fri 30 Nov 12
please read above.
This will just drive them into the toilets to drink the hand sanitiser
HarwoodBiker
says...
9:37am Fri 30 Nov 12
sean_brfc
says...
4:09pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Cream cakes rarely lead to anti-social behaviour.
useyourhead says...
6:13pm Thu 29 Nov 12